A host of Salford City Reds stars are hoping to agree new contracts at the Willows over the next week or so.

But veteran centre Willie Talau isn't one of them.

The 34-year-old Samoan-born centre is hanging up his boots at the end of the season and returning Down Under to start a new life outside rugby league.

"I've thought about it a lot and this is going to be my last season," he said.

"We have already put plans in motion to relocate back to Australia. It's a new chapter in my life and a chapter I'm pretty much looking forward to."

Talau left his homeland for Australia when he was 21 and joined the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.

He signed for St Helens in 2003 and scored 50 tries in 132 appearances, lifting the Challenge Cup four times and winning Super League and the World Club championship.

On the international front he reached the World Cup final at Old Trafford with New Zealand in 2000 before switching allegiances to Samoa in 2007 to play in the World Cup the following year.

He joined Salford last season but his campaign was virtually wiped out through injury, but he is hoping to go out on a personal high by helping the City Reds into the play-offs.

"There's a lot of young kids here - really good young kids - and I want to help them on the coaching side of things.

"I can be a bit of a mentor to some of the younger kids.

"I would like to go out on a high and on a personal level still playing good rugby. The play-offs are a goal of ours and a goal of everyone associated with the club and that would be something special to achieve."

That goal looks more like becoming reality after Saturday night's thrilling 42-34 victory over Saints. Next up for Salford is Catalans away and the volcanic ash cloud is back to haunt Shaun McRae's men.

The memory of the arduous five-day bus trip in the Challenge Cup last month is still fresh in Talau's memory.

"That trip was like travelling to Australia and coming straight back.

"It was a really tough trip to do and hopefully we don't have to do it again."

REDS skipper Mal Alker is another player who must decide what he plans to do next season. It's understood he may not be offered a playing contract with the Reds but could be asked to fulfil a coaching role.